Piano-violin.



if@ @Mw A.V PIATKIBWICZ.

f PIANO VIOLIN.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1 6, 190s.

907,870. Patented De0.29,1908.

edge view of Fig. 2.'

ALEKSANDER PIATKIEwIca, or -cnriuw AUsaRiA-Huvelisir.y

PIANofvIoLIN.

No. conero.

T o all whom it may concern.' l

Be it known that I, ALEKsANDER PIA'rKIEf wICZ, Clergynian and professor,a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing in Chyrw, Galicia,in the IAustro-IAIung-ariani Empire, have invented Improvements Relateing to Piano-Violins.; and I Vdo hereby dei clare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying draw.

ings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates more particularly to 4stringed instruments andits o ject is to provide means for playing Zither or harp-like or'.

similar stringed instruments by a yfrictional band or strap operated byfoot power, ,the various strings beingbrought in and out. of

contact with said band or strap by keys ar' ranged on a keyboard of thepianoxtype. The frictional band for sounding the strings or wires formsa continuous strap which is mounted on rollers and so disposed as to`bein close proximity to all the strings without normally touching them.This bandl` v.is driven with a uniform motion by mechanism resemblingthat generally .used for im arting motion to sewing machines driven yfoot y. 4

' l, tension-remains unalected by reason vof the power.

My inventionwill be more clearly understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in whichr-- Figure 1 is a perspective viewT of theim; proved instrument. Fig. 2 shows a portion of the sound-box with asingle stringI and means-for moving the latter against the endlessoperating frictional strap. lFig'S is an Fig. 4 is'a pla-n of a leverfor controlling a string. Fig. 5 shows a convenient form ofkey-mechanism forthe strings, Eig`-` 6 is a plan view of a series of thelevers shown in Fig. 4. The instrument is provided with a sound board orbok 1, and may be made similar tofa. harp, Zither or the like and of anupright or l a horizontal form. A bridge-bar 2 extends over the entirewidth of the instrument and receives the strings or wires 3 which aresecured to the usualy pegs 4.

y Specifcatiovh'of.ietter Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1,908.

Appiication mea July"j ,Veoe. serial' No 326,336.

l' cose tothe strings is disposed ,an endless traveling band or strap 5mounted on rollers 6 Isecured to the sound board. These rollers receiverotary motion through suitable gear I(not shown) in connection With apedal 7 and v,driving Wheel 8 after, the usual manner adopted for sewingmachines. Each string is supported at apoint about a quarter of itslength by a lever-armi) fast on a spindle lO-which is secured in abracket 11 ,iix'ed to the sound box.. trolle'd by a link 12 which isadjustably secured to an operating key 13 and a spring 14 serves toreturn the parts to their normal position which is determined by thecontact of the'key 13 with the stationary bar 15. The free endvof thearm 9 is .formed with a slot l16 to hold 'and support the string, and ithas a projecting iinger 1'7' which holds the latter against the band orstrap 5. 'It is nec- The arm 9 is cone essary'to place the spindle orpivot 10 ofthe arm 9 in the straight line 18 betweenl the con` smallnessofthe angular motion of the operatingarm, While-moreover, the'stringscan be pressed against the traveling friction band or strap more or lessrmly for soft and loud playing.

Obviously-I may adopt modified parts to l provide the connection betweenthe arm and the key so as to suit any kind of instrument, whichitself'may have different forms, with any ynumber of strings forvupright, or for horizontal mechanism andbe, provided with dampers andsimilardevices for imitating the lsounds of various existinginstruments.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention, and in what manner the same is to b performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is.-

In a musical instrument, the combination,

of a series of strings,- means for maintaining In front of and l themunder tension, a traveling band, means 5 arms, and e, spring bearingagainst each arm 'Witnessesz Y for moving the strings independentlyof'each In testimony, that I claimthe foregoing, I other against saidband comprising pivoted have' hereunto set my handthis Zndfday of{ar-ins each holding a. string in its free end, 'July,1906.'. y

- keys, and links connecting the keysnnd said ALEKSANDER PIATKIEWICZ.

4sind normally holding it retracted, substen- STANISLAW DzBANsKI,

tiully as described. 'I ALvEsTo S. HOGUE.

